Foreign student kidnapped, held in car boot for 3 days

An exchange student from Ghana was kidnapped by ruthless robbers who stuffed him into the boot of a car where he spent three freezing nights before being rescued.

Enoch Owusu Sekyere, 25, had been in South Africa for a month, doing research for his M.Sc degree in agricultural economics at the University of the Free State, reported Volksblad.

He was allegedly kidnapped by four men who held him hostage while stealing money from his account.

They used about R5 000 to make several purchases at shops in the city.

Police officers described Sekyere's rescue as a miracle.

A friend who was with Sekyere when they were accosted by the armed men said the robbers had let him go, but had taken Sekyere when they found American dollars on him. They then searched his dorm room and assaulted him until he gave them his PIN number.

The friend reported the incident to police and task team, detectives and crime intelligence operation was mobilised.

Police found Sekyere's cellphone in his room and monitored how robbers were withdrawing money from his account and where his credit card was being used.

One of the suspects was arrested at a shop.

Sekyere was found with his hands and feet bound and covered with a blanket. He had been badly assaulted and was unable to use his hands.

Sekyere, who was in a state of shock and dehydrated, was taken to hospital for treatment.